Sacramento Aging In Place

Aging in place is a concept that might sound a bit odd, just sitting around while you get older, but it is the desire of most seniors to be able to stay in their homes for as long as possible. Fortunately, over the years this idea has become more popular and there is a growing list of services and help to make that happen. No matter what neighborhood in Sacramento you reside in, you can find services like homemakers to help you with cooking or cleaning and home health aides to help you maintain your health routine.

Who Pays For These Services?

If these sound like luxury services that you can’t afford, don’t worry there are plenty of payment options especially if your doctor has recommended that you get help to safely stay in your home. Veterans can check their VA benefits to see what their long-term care coverage is and low-income seniors can use Medicaid benefits. If you have a long-term care insurance policy these services could be covered. California Department of Aging also has a Community-Based Adult Services program that can help seniors get the care they need to stay in their home.

What Is The Cost Of These Services?

The cost of these services is going to depend on a few different factors. First, where you live can influence the total price and what kind of care you need will also factor in. Finally, how frequently you need care can cause the price to go up or down. The national monthly average for home care services is around $3,800.

Sacramento’s home care averages are going to be a little higher than the national averages. Homemaker services average about $4, 481 per month and home health aides come in at about $4, 767 per month. This breaks down into $147 and $157 per day respectively which might seem a lot but when you consider the daily average for a semi-private room in a nursing home is $258, it’s a better deal.

How Can I Find A Provider?

You want to find the right provider for your needs and you should start your search by asking your friends and family for their suggestions. You can also talk with neighbors and your health care provider to see if they have any recommendations. The Better Business Bureau of Northeast California is a good place to read user reviews and see how other customers felt about each business.

Once you have a few places to start, call and begin asking questions. Find out if they have the proper license, insurance, and if they are bonded. Ask about their hiring process and see if they do background checks on their employees. You will also want to see what their payment options are and how they handle their scheduling. Finally, carefully go over any contract before signing and beginning their services.

Do I Have Other Care Options?

Homemakers and home health aides are some of the more popular in-home care services but they certainly aren’t the only ones. The internet has some great service providers that allow you to customize the type of care you get.

If you have pets and need help, you can find dog walkers and pet sitters on Rover.com. Handy is a website where you can find housecleaners, and TaskRabbit or Favor.com allow you to find help with any chore or errand. Porch.com and Amazon Home Services are also good sites to keep in mind if you need home repairs or remodels. No matter what you decide to do, make sure you research each service to make sure it’s right for you.